By Audrey John
Magistrate Sahr Kekura of Pademba road Magistrate court No1 has on the 21st April, 2022 issued bench warrant for the main opposition member APC, Karamoh Kabba and fourteen others for being absent from court. All 15 accused persons were granted bail in the sum of one hundred million Leones on their third appearance.
All fifteen accused persons are before the count on summary trial on five count charges of Conspiracy to commit felony, unlawful assembly, riotous conduct, Incitement and intimidation contrary to the laws of Sierra Leone.
It was alleged on count one that on Monday 13th of December 2021 at Siaka Steven Street , Freetown, the accused persons conspired with other persons unknown to commit a felony to wit unlawful assembly.
From count two to count five, all accused persons were alleged to unlawfully assemble and behaved in a riotous manner; used inciting words and intimidates other peaceful citizens.
On the day when counsel applied for bail the bench was baffled with the ninth accused person.
Having perused the file, magistrate Sahr Kekura said eight percent of the accused persons are not resident of Freetown.
The ninth accused person stated during investigation that she is a Guinean, but defense counsel argued that all of them are Sierra Leoneans.
In that light, magistrate Sahr Kekura ordered for all accused persons to sit down until the ninth produce her birthday certificate to ascertain her nationality.
Few minutes later another defense counsel M Beret present to the court photocopy of the identification card of the ninth accused. He promised to produced the original on the next adjourned date.
However the matter was mentioned in court all accused persons was absent the prosecutor Sergeant 9155 Dwight Macarthy applied for bench warrant against all accused persons the application was granted the matter was adjourned to the 28th April 2022.
